Hugh Marvin Tiner was
born in Seguin, Texas April 16, 1908. He was married to Lola Lammey.
He received his secondary education at Abilene
Christian University where he received the B.A. degree in 1928. He then
attended Stanford University in Stanford, California where he received
his M.A. degree in 1929. While at Stanford he worked in a downtown L.A.
cafe' washing dishes at the same sink where President Herbert Hoover had
worked when he was in school. Further education was found at the
University of Southern California where he received the Ph.D. in 1944.
He attended the College of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons where he
received Doctor of Humane Letters in 1948.
Tiner obeyed the gospel in 1925 at the hands of Arthur
Slater. He began preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ in Abilene, Texas
in 1926. Churches he served through the years included: the Sichel
Street church in Los Angeles, California from 1930-1935; the church of
Christ in Huntington Park, California from 1937-1939; and the Vermont
Avenue church in Los Angeles from 1937-1939. He spent the last years of
his life working with the church in Long Beach, California. For a number
of years he preached on radio station KFVD in Los Angeles, California,
conducting the first weekly hour long broadcast entitled the, Take Time
To Be Holy Hour. He did this for twenty years.
Hugh M. Tiner was a writer. He contributed articles to
numerous brotherhood journals. He wrote for the Gospel Advocate,
Firm Foundation, 20th Century Christian, and the
Christian Leader. Perhaps the greatest area of contribution we realized in the field of
education. From 1929 to 1937 he served in different roles in the Los
Angeles County School System. He held the positions of teacher,
vice-principal, assistant superintendent, and supervisor to the school
system.
In 1937 worked closely with George Pepperdine in
designing and organizing George Pepperdine College (later University).
It has been said that he did more to influence Pepperdine, wealthy owner
of the, then national chain of Western Auto Stores, to commit to
starting the college. When the college started in September of 1937, Batsell Baxter was its first president,
and Hugh M. Tiner served the college as its first dean, and was a
charter member of the Board of Trustees.
Two years later, President Baxter approached the Board
of Trustees of the need to resign his position for health reasons. He
recommended to the board that the obvious person to replace him as
president was Dean Tiner. Tiner was elected to become the next president
of the college in April, 1939, and was at that time the youngest college
president in America. When M. Norvel Young
was named president of the college in 1957, he retired his position.
Hugh Tiner was civically minded. He participated in
Rotary International, and was a member of many civic and educational
organizations.
He passed from this life January 7, 1981 and was buried
in the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Long Beach, California.
Sources: Preachers Of Today, Vol. 1; History of Christian Colleges,
Young.

Gospel Advocate Obituary

Brother Hugh Tiner passed
away unexpectedly Wednesday evening Jan. 7, 1981, after returning from
the mid-week services. He and sister Lola had spent the holidays with
family and friends in San Antonio, Texas.

The funeral services were
conducted Sunday afternoon Jan. 11 at the Uptown Church of Christ, Long
Beach, Calif., where he recently retired as pulpit minister after
serving 10 years. The auditorium and fellowship hall overflowed with
friends and relatives from throughout the State and Nation. Howard
White, President, Pepperdine University; M.
Norvel Young, Chancellor, Pepperdine University; Hubert Derrick,
long-time friend, and Stuart Love, minister, Uptown Church of Christ,
officiated.

Brother Tiner was born on a
farm near San Antonio, Texas, April 16, 1908. He was next to the oldest
of ten children. In 1929 he graduated from Abilene Christian College
with a B.A. degree, and in the same year he received his M.A. from
Stanford University in California. In 1945 the University of Southern
California, Los Angeles, awarded him the Ph.D. in education.

He began his career as a
teacher with the Lynwood, Calif., Schools. He later became Assistant
Superintendent. In 1933, he was appointed Supervisor of the Los Angeles
County Schools. About three years later he became a close advisor of
Brother George Pepperdine, then the owner of the Western Auto Stores,
who wished to use his fortune to best further Christianity. Brother
Tiner helped to organize and begin the George Pepperdine College, Los
Angeles, Calif. In 1937 the college opened with Bro. Batsell Baxter as
its first President and Brother Tiner, as its first Dean. But in 1939
Brother Hugh was chosen as President, and remained so for the next 18
years.

Hubert Derrick, a boyhood
friend, college classmate and fellow professor for more than 30 years at
Pepperdine University, shared with the huge audience many of his happy
memories of his long association with Brother Tiner. Norvel Young, who
followed Brother Tiner as President of Pepperdine, praised him as a
great administrator and credited him with establishing a strong
financial base for the institution, by organizing the President's Board,
which continues to function. "He piloted the College through many
difficult times," said Brother Young. He said that Brother Tiner was in
the forefront in strengthening the church in California, and the West.
"He began the first continuing radio program, 'Take Time To Be Holy'
hour, and was its speaker for 20 years. He preached regularly for many
congregations in the Los Angeles area, such as: the Sichiel St.,
Huntington Park, Vermont Ave., and others. He conducted gospel meetings
throughout California and Washington State."

Howard White, in delivering
the main eulogy, saluted Brother Tiner, as a young man who learned the
meaning of following Christ with the highest objectives in Christian
service. He placed his individuality in the service of these objectives.
In so doing, he had a distinguished career as a Christian Educator and
Gospel Minister.

Hugh and Lola Tiner are buried in the Forest
Lawn Cemetery in Long Beach, California. The cemetery is located at 1500
E. San Antonio Dr., Long Beach, CA 90807. An interesting point to
consider is that Tiner was born and raised on a farm near San Antonio,
Texas. When he died, he was buried just off E. San Antonio Dr. in Long
Beach, California. The Easiest way to find the grave would be to go to
the office on San Antonio Drive and get someone to help you locate it.
However, if that is not an option the directions in the cemetery are
below.
From Downtown Los Angeles head south on I-710 toward Long Beach. Head
east on the Artesian Fwy. Hwy. 91 (Exit 13b) and take the Cherry Avenue
Exit. Head south about 2 miles. Turn into the main entrance of the
cemetery off Cherry Avenue. You will quickly notice the Chapels and
Mausoleums to the right. On your left you will see a wall closest to
Cherry Ave. A section next to the wall is elevated. It is called the
Garden of Meditation. There will be a short wall and then the first real
section of the cemetery. This is as good a place as any to walk in. You
will see a sidewalk in the distance. Make your way to the sidewalk, and
you will be on the edge of the Delphinium Section. The grave is located
just next to the sidewalk in the Delphinium Section. For perspective of
location, see second picture below.